RUUD van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane are set to begin their FA Cup Final build-up against Portsmouth at Fratton Park tomorrow.

While United bid to erode Chelsea’s advantage in the chase for second place in the Premiership and automatic entry into the Champions League, the battle for Cardiff places is also warming up.

Leading scorer van Nistelrooy missed the Reds’ semi-final win over Arsenal with a knee knock received against the Gunners in the league at Highbury six days earlier.

He has been absent from the last three games with Fergie not willing to risk his Dutch ace against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

But the 26-goal striker has been in full training this week and is expected to be ready for a return on the South Coast.

Van Nistelrooy hasn’t scored since his FA Cup double against Fulham in the first week of March and United need his potency to return as they battle for the league runners-up place and prepare for the showdown with Millwall on May 22.

Keane missed the Birmingham and Leicester matches also having picked up knocks in the semi. Impressive

But the captain, too, is set for a comeback with the Final just six games away.

Cristiano Ronaldo, however, could be back on the bench at Portsmouth as Fergie %continues to guard against burn-out for the 19-year-old.

Ronaldo scored and had an impressive half at St Andrews last Saturday and was the star of the night against Leicester on Tuesday.